Fare box and register



No. 614347. Patented Nov. l5', |898. F. B. WAGNER.

FARE BOX AND REGISTER.

(Application l'ed Oct. 29, 1897.)

2 Sheets-Sheet l.

(No Model.)

Patented Nov. l5, |898.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

l I 1 l l I p I 1 l l I a I .l l l 1 I I 1 l I l l l I a 1 F. B. WAGNER.

FARE BOX AND REGISTER.

(Application led Oct. 29, 1897.)

(No Model.)

' UNITED STATES PATENT EFICE.

FRANK B. WAGNER, OF CLEVELAND, OIHO.

FARE vBOX AND REGISTER.

'.SIEFLIII?ICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 614,147, datedNovember 15, 189,8;

Application iiled October 29, 1897. Serial No. 656,832. (No model.)

T0 all whom, t may concern.'

Be it known that I, FRANK B. WAGNER, a citizen of the UnitedStates,residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State ofOhio, have invented a certain ne7 and useful Improvement in Fare Boxesand Registers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to the class of devices whose object is to makeit impossible for a street-railway conductor to steal, withoutdetection, any of the money collected for fares. Such boxes are carriedby the conductor.

The passenger places his fare in the box, and

the conductor, by operating a convenient trigger,operates the registerand alarm mechanism and permits the coin to drop into the lower part ofthe box, which is adapted to hold it. Y

The present invention has for its object to reduce the box to thesmallest possible size for use upon ordinary occasions and to providemeans whereby the coin-holding part of the box may be expanded duringtimes of heavy business.

Another object is to make it impossible to remove from the box any coinswhich have geen deposited therein without opening` the Another object isto make it impossible to open the box without leaving evidence behindthat it has been opened.

Another object is to so construct the box that none of the operatingparts can be tampered with without opening the box, and still anotherobject is to simplify the construction of the operating parts; and theinvention consists in the novel combination of parts for effecting theseresults, as described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of the box. Fig. 2 is asectional view on line 2 2 of Fig. 3, and Fig. 3 is a sectional view online 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a sectional view on line 4 4 of Fig. 2.Fig. 5 is a sectional view on line 5 5 of Fig. 2, and Fig. 6 is asectional view on line 6 6 of Fig. 2.

The case which contains the operating parts and provides a receptaclefor the coin consists of two principal parts--to wit, the

fare-chute, and the seal and seal-breaking mechanism, rbc., while thelower section serves as a receptacle for fares collected. It isdesirable that devices of this kind be as small as possible tofacilitate the handling of them. If the lower or coin-holding section ofthe box is made of such size that it will serve to contain the farescollected when the business is exceedingly heavy, it will be larger thannecessary under ordinary conditions of business. The fare-holding lowersection B of the case is therefore made of two telescoping parts b andb2, whose complete separation is prevented by pins b3, secured to theinner wall of the outer section 1)',which enter lon gitudinal slots b4in the inner wall of the lower and inner section b2, and thus limit therelative movement of these two parts. A pin b5 is secured to the end ofa spring bs, which is fastened at its other end to the inner part b2,and the pin projects through a hole t7 in the inner part and is adaptedto enter any of a plurality of holes o8, formed in the outer part b2.During light business the lower part is pushed as far as possible intothe upper part, as shown by full lines in the drawings, and whenbusiness is heavy the pin t7 may be pushed in, the lower part of the boxpulled out as Jfar as possible, and the pin caused to engage in theproper hole be in the outer part. The holding capacity of the box isnearly Adoubled when it is expanded to its full capacity.

The fare-chute C is secured in the section A. Its upper end c, which ismore or less funnelshaped, projects out of the top of the box. Thischute does not extend straight down, but is bent or deilected toward oneside of the box. A glass plate c is secured behind an openin g a4 inthis side of the box, which plate at this point serves as one wall ofthe farechute and also as an inspection-window. The lower end of thefare-chute below this window is closed by a spring-actuated swing-f IOOthese fin gers, by gravity, fall across the chute and prevent thepassage of any coin outward. Just above these fingers, as at c2, the'chute is narrowed to such a size that it will just allow the thickestcoin which the box is adapted to receive to pass through it. This isanother safeguard to prevent the removal of coin, because a dishonestconductor might attempt, with a thin piece of metal, to push the ngersback out of the way to permit a coin to pass them; but if that were donethis piece of metal would contract the chute above the said ngers tosuch an extent that the coin would not pass through this contracted partso long as the metal strip were there.

As before stated, the upper section A of the box contains theregistering and alarm mechanism,the unlocking mechanism,the seal,andseal-breaking mechanism. These parts are not mounted directly upon thecase, but upon the plate G, which is secured in the case against onewall thereof by screws g, which pass through that part of thecase-section A which when the sections A and B are secured together iscovered by the upper part of section B. The registering mechanismconsists of a train of wheels K K K2 of ordinary construction, bearingfigures, which may be seen through small openings ct in the plate G incase A. Secured to the units-wheel K is a ratchet 7s, to which isimparted a step-bystep movement by a lever H and a spring-pressed pawlh, carried by said lever so as to engage with said ratchet. Below thepivot of the lever ,H is a pin 7i', which enters a vertical slot in atrigger-rod J. This triggenrod, as shown, is a bent wire, of which oneend projects out of an opening in the case and has the push-buttonjIsecured thereon. It is longitudinally movable through an eye m, formedin the end of a post M, which is soldered to the interior of thecase-section A. The end of this triggerbar is adjacent to an arm d,rigidly attached to the pivoted door D, wherefore when the trigger-barispushed to operate the registering mechanism it swings said door andpermits the coin, which was before held by the door, to drop i'nto thebox-section B. The alarm consists of a bell P, secured' to a fixed postp in case A, and a spring bell-ham mer fn, which is fastened to one armof the bell-crank lever N, pivoted to the plate G. On the other arm n ofthis bell-crankl lever is the tripping-pawl n2, which is engaged by anarm h2, secured to the register-lever H. A coiled spring Q is stretchedbetween and connected to the register-lever and bell-lever, wherebythese parts are returned to their normal positions, as shown in Fig. 2.

XVhen the two case-sections A and B are inserted one into the other,they are automatically locked together by the engagement of thespring-catches F with the lugs Z1, as before described. These lugs arepart of a small plate b9, which is secured to the case-section B, andthe upper edge of this plate serves as a stop against which the loweredge of the case-section A strikes to prevent said casesection fromentering section B too far. The mechanism for releasing these catchesconsists of a rock-shaft R, the end of which is accessible through ahole d2 in the case. The end is slotted like the end of a screw, so thatit may be readily turned by akey or like instrumentality. Thisrock-shaft carries two cams r r', which are respectively adapted toengage with the two spring-catches F F, whereby when the rock-shaft isturned these catches are pushed back out of engagement with the lugs,and this permits the separation of the two parts of the case A and B.The unlocking of the box is therefore easy and of itself affords noprotection against the opening of the box; but a seal and SeaLbreakingdevice is provided,which will disclose the fact that the box has beenopened. This sealing device consists of a seal S, held over an openinga5 in the case, and the seal-breaking device is a pointed arm U, securedto the rock shaft R in such position that when the roclc shaft is turnedto release the catches this pointed arm punctures the seal.

The seal is a circular disk of paper S, which is set into a recess t ina ratchet-wheel T. This ratchet-wheel is loosely mounted upon a stud g2,secured to the plate G, and it is held thereon and prevented fromturning accidentally by a flat spring V, secured to the plate G andpressing upon the ratchet-wheel. Through the ratchet-wheel are formed asmany holes t as the ratchet has teeth, and they are so arranged thatwhen the ratchet comes to rest afterbeing moved, as hereinafterdescribed, one of these holes registers with the seal-revealing hole a3in the case. The seal has printed on it consecutive numbers, so arrangedthat when the sealis in place one number is over each hole in theratchet. Secured to the part B of the case is a spring pressed pawl t3,so placed that when the section A is telescoped into section B thisspringpawl engages with the ratchet and turns it a distance equal to thedistance between two ratchet-teeth.

A fare box and register constructed as above described presents a smoothexterior having openings to display the register and the seal and anopening through which the rock-shaft maybe turned, an inspection-openingto the fare-chute, all of which are preferably covered by glass securedinside of the case; but there are no rivets or screws in sight which maybe manipulated without opening IOO the box or breaking the seal for thepurpose of disarran ging the parts, which are inclosed.

When in use, the conductor holds this box so that the inspection-windowis toward him and one of his fingers is upon the button at the end ofthe trigger-bar. The passenger drops his money into the open end of thefarechute and the coin falls down to a point where it is stopped by theswinging door D and temporarily held for inspection by the conductorbehind the inspection-window. The conductor then presses the triggerwhereby the registering mechanism is operated, the alarm mechanism isoperated, and the door is also moved, so that the coin may drop into thelower part of the box.

Secured to the section A is a door I, which is held in anearly-horizontal position, whereby it acts as a partition separatingthe lower from the upper part of the box, thus preventing the coin whenthe box is inverted from getting into the upper part of the case.

The foregoing is a description of a fare box and register which containsmy invention embodied in its best form; but the form and arrangement ofmany of the parts may be modified Without departure from the invention,as deined by the following claims.

l. In a fare box and register, in combination, a case composed of twoseparable sections, lugs carried by one section, and springcatchescarried by the other section and adapted to engage with said lugs,mechanism for releasing said catches, a seal, and a sealbreaking deviceoperated by said catch-releasing mechanism, substantially as specified.

2. In a fare box and register, in combination, a case composed of twoseparable sections, a locking device for connecting said sections,mechanism for unlocking said device, a movable seal-holder, mechanismfor moving said seal-holder each time the casesections are separated andput together, and a seal-breaking device operated by said unlockingmechanism, substantially as speciied.

3. In a fare box and register, in combination, a case composed of twosepara-ble sections, catches for connecting said two parts, a seal, arock-shaft carrying cams adapted to engage with and cause the releasing`action of said catches, and a seal-breaking finger secured to saidrock-shaft, substantially as specified.

4. In a fare box and register, in combinav tion, a case composed of twoseparable sections, mechanism for connecting said sections, mechanismfor disconnecting said scctions, a wheel mounted on one section andhaving a plurality of holes and a recess adapted to contain a frangibleseal, mechanism for turning said Wheel, a frangible seal in said recess,and a seal-breaking device operated by the mechanism for disconnectingthe said sections, substantially as specied.

5. In a fare box and register, in combina- CIJ tion, a case composed oftwo separable sections, mechanism for connecting and disconnecting saidsections, a seal-holding ratchetwheel mounted on a stud secured to onesection, a spring for holding the ratchet-wheel on said stud, a sealsecured in a recess in one face of said ratchet-wheel, said ratchethaving a plurality of holes, a pawl for turning said wheel, and a deviceadapted to kpass through one of said holes and puncture the said seal,substantially as specified.

6. In a fare box and register, in combination, a case composed of twoseparable sections, one having a stud on the inner face of one side, andhaving in said side a seal-inspecting hole, a ratchet-wheel removablymounted on said stud having a plurality of equally-spaced holes whichare adapted to successively register with said hole in the case, andhaving also a recess in that face which is next the side of the case, aseal in said recess, and a seal-breaker which is operated whenever thetwo case-sections are disconnected, substantially as specified.

7. In a fare box and register, in combination, a case composed of twoseparable sections, a seal-holding ratchet-wheel loosely mounted on astud secured to one of the casesections and having a plurality of holesand a recess in that face which lies against the wall of the case, aseal placed in said recess, a spring holding the ratchet upon the stud,and a pawl secured to the other section for operating said ratchet,substantially as speciiied.

8. In a fare box and register, a seal-holder consisting of aratchet-wheel having a recess in one face, and having a plurality ofequallyspaced holes symmetrically arranged around the axis of saidwheel, substantially as specilied.

9. Ina fare box and register, in combination, a case composed of anupper section and a lower fare-holding section adapted to be locked tothe upper section, said lower section being composed of two telescopingparts, and means, adapted to be operated from outside the casing andwithout unlocking the two sections, for connecting said telescopingparts indifferent relative positions, substantially as specified.

10. In a fare box and register, in combination, a case composed of anupper section and a lower fare-holding section adapted to be locked tothe upper section, said lower section being composed of two telescopingparts, the outer of said parts havingaplurality of holes, and aspring-arm secured to the inside of the inner telescoping part andcarrying a pin which projects through a hole in said part and is adaptedto enter any of the holes in the other part, whereby said pin isaccessible from without the case, substantially as speciiied.

1l. In afare box and register, the combination of a case composed of twosections A and B, the section A containing register and alarm IIOmechanism, and a locking device for locking the two sections together,and a fare-chute which is adapted to discharge into the section B coinsdeposited in its open upper end, the section B being composed of twotelescoping parts, and mechanism adapted to be operated from outside thecase for holding said parts in different relative positions,substantially as specified.

12. In a fare box and register, in combination, a case composed of twoseparable sections, the lower adapted to hold the fares collected, aremovable plate secured in the upper section carrying register and alarmmechanism, the connection between said plate and section being coveredby the lower section when said two parts are connected together,substantially as specified.

13. In a fare box and register, in combination, a case composed of twoseparable sections, the lower adapted to hold the fares collected, aremovable plate secured in the upper section,and register and alarmmechanism carried by said removable plate, substantially as specified.

14. In a fare box and register, in combination, a lower case-sectionadapted to contain fares, an upper case-section, removably sccured inthe lower section, and containing a fare-chute, a spring-door closingthe lower end of said chute, a glass window in the side of the boxforming one wall of the chute just above said door, registering andalarm mechanism securedin upperpart of said case, and a longitudinalmovable trigger-bar adapted to operate said register and alarm mechanismand to open the door which closes the lower end of the fare-chute,substantially as specified.

15. A fare box and register, in combination, a casing composed of twoseparable sections, a fare-chute secured to the upper section and havingits upper end open and being deflected out of a straight path from itsupper to its lower end, two sets of loose gravity-fingers adapted tofall across thechute when the fare-box is reversed, the fare-chute abovesaid FRANK B. WAGNER.

lffitnesses:

E. L. THURs'roN, ALBERT 1I. Barns.

